Kevin Willis scored 18 points to lead seven players in double
figures and the Houston Rockets used a pair of second-half
surges for a 102-86 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, who
have lost five straight games.

Reserve Eddie Johnson scored 16 points and former Sixer Charles
Barkley added 14 and 15 rebounds for the Rockets, who won for
just the fourth time in 14 games. However, Houston has won six
straight visits to Philadelphia, last losing on January 8th,
1992, when Barkley was on the 76ers.

"It is really fun coming home, because I get together with my
friends and I get excited about playing here with them in the
stands," said Barkley, who received polite applause from the
sellout crowd. "If I am fortunate enough to make the Hall of
Fame, I'll go in as a 76er, without a doubt."

"When Charles Barkley plays in Philly, you play a more spirited
game," Willis said. "We feel like he's our floor general and
leader out there and he really gets excited for these games."

The Rockets used an 18-6 surge in the third quarter to take the
lead for good and opened the fourth period with a 12-0 burst
that extended their lead to 20 points and put away the game.

"We have had trouble in the third quarter in the past but we put
it together tonight," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "We
played aggressive basketball and we knocked down our free
throws. Our defense was shaky at first, but we played better as
the game went on."

Jimmy Jackson scored 22 points and Derrick Coleman added 18 and
12 rebounds for the Sixers, who surprised the Rockets 114-110 in
Houston on November 12th.

"I didn't think our team played with much emotion at all," said
Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "You can't expect DC and Theo
(Ratliff) to erase every mistake we make at the defensive end.
As a team, we have to have a defensive and unselfish mind-set.
We've lost some tough games and that's bound to take something
out of you. But we had a full house tonight and didn't come out
with a lot of energy."

Allen Iverson played another poor game with just 10 points on
3-of-14 shooting. Since being named NBA Player of the Week,
Iverson has shot 30 percent (18-of-60) and averaged 11 points in
five games, all losses.

"He's not a jump-shooter," Brown said. "When was the last time
you saw him take a pick-and-roll and get to the rim?"

The losing streak dropped Philadelphia to 7-8 in January as it
squandered a chance for its first winning month since January
1994, when it went 8-7. The Sixers have had 25 straight losing
months.

"The last four or five games have been very frustrating because
we've come out and played well but didn't finish," Jackson said.
"If you turn the ball over like we've been doing, you don't have
a chance to win."

Philadelphia reserve forward Mark Davis was taken to Methodist
Hospital for X-rays after suffering a right wrist injury in the
second quarter. The X-rays were negative as he was diagnosed
with a sprain.

Two free throws by Iverson gave Philadelphia a 53-51 lead with
8:10 left in the third quarter before a hook by Willis started
the first run. Barkley had two free throws, a steal and layup
to give Houston the lead for good and Mario Elie added five foul
shots before a layup by Clyde Drexler capped the burst at 69-59
with 1:59 left in the period. The Sixers helped the Rockets by
committing five turnovers.

"We just wanted to play good team defense and cut the turnovers
down," Willis said. "Our defense kept us in the game. Anytime
you play good team defense like that, it turns the game around."

Philadelphia trailed 71-63 entering the fourth quarter, but had
any ideas of a comeback quickly scuttled as Houston scored the
first 12 points of the period. Othella Harrington had a pair of
layups and Brent Price added a jumper and three-pointer as the
Rockets extended to an 83-63 advantage with 8:02 remaining.

Houston's largest lead came at 100-78 on a layup by Drexler with
2:02 to go. Johnson scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and
Price added 10 of his 12.

Harrington and Elie scored 12 points each and Drexler added 10
for the Rockets, who shot 49 percent (38-of-78) from the field
and held a 40-32 rebounding advantage. Houston also was
22-of-25 from the line.

"Our bench played a tremendous game," Tomjanovich said. "This
was a good win for us and really helped our morale. Charles
Barkley made some fantastic plays and really helped us out
tonight. I think we're heading in the right direction now."

Rookie Tim Thomas and Theo Ratliff scored nine points apiece for
the Sixers, who shot 50 percent (37-of-74) but just 1-of-9 from
three-point range. Iverson was 0-of-4 from behind the arc.

Jackson scored 12 points and Coleman 10 in the first half as
Philadelphia grabbed a 43-39 lead. Willis kept Houston close
with 12 points.